Main Guidelines

These guidelines describe the working standards we expect editors, writers, contributors, and production tools to support. They are designed to protect accuracy, context, reader trust, and the dignity of people represented in our stories.

Accuracy and context

Material facts should be checked before publication using sources appropriate to the claim. Headlines, summaries, thumbnails, captions, and social copy should not contradict the article or present speculation as established fact. Dates, locations, relationship details, and chronology should be retained when they materially affect meaning.

When facts remain uncertain, the article should say what is known, what is alleged, and where the information came from. Publishing quickly is not a reason to remove essential qualification.

Sources, attribution, and quotations

Direct records, first-hand accounts, official documents, and clearly identified primary sources are preferred where practical. Outside reporting, photographs, data, research, and quotations must be attributed. Anonymous sources require careful evaluation of access, motive, corroboration, and potential harm.

Quotations may be shortened for clarity only when their meaning is preserved. Translation should communicate the original meaning and should be identified when that context matters.

Privacy, grief, children, and vulnerable people

Editors should weigh public interest against foreseeable harm. Extra caution is required with children, medical information, grief, trauma, abuse, private addresses, identifying documents, and people who may not understand the consequences of publication. Graphic or distressing material should be necessary to the story and preceded by an appropriate warning.

AI and production tools

Automation may assist with outlines, transcription, grammar, translation, image ideation, metadata, or workflow. It must not be treated as an authoritative source. Names, quotations, dates, claims, and rights must be checked independently. Synthetic or materially altered imagery should not be presented as documentary evidence.

The publisher remains responsible for everything released under its name, regardless of which tools assisted production.

Corrections, updates, and removals

Material errors should be corrected promptly and transparently. A correction note should explain what changed when the original wording could have materially misled a reader. Developing stories may carry an update note. Minor spelling, grammar, or formatting repairs may be made silently when they do not alter meaning.

Removal requests are considered case by case. Disagreement or embarrassment alone does not automatically require removal, but safety, privacy, legal rights, source reliability, changed circumstances, and continuing public value may be relevant.

Advertising and commercial independence

Advertisements, sponsorships, affiliate links, supplied content, and paid collaborations should be labeled in direct language. Advertisers do not receive the right to approve unrelated editorial coverage or disguise promotion as independent reporting. Editorial and commercial teams may coordinate format, safety, and scheduling without misrepresenting who influenced the content.

Comments and community participation

Reader comments may be moderated for spam, threats, harassment, unlawful material, impersonation, personal information, and activity that disrupts discussion. Publication of a comment does not mean the publisher endorses it. Repeated or serious abuse may lead to removal or access restrictions.